CO2 capture performance of bi-functional activated bleaching earth modified with basic-alcoholic solution and functionalization with monoethanolamine: isotherms, kinetics and thermodynamics

CO_2 capture performance of bifunctional activated bleaching earth(ABE) was investigated at atmospheric pressure. The sorbents were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction(XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller(BET), Caron-Hydrogen-Nitrogen analysis(CHN), Fourier transform infrared(FT-IR) and thermal gravimetric analysis(TGA). The CO_2 capacity was enhanced via basic-modification and monoethanolamine(MEA) loading of the ABE sorbent to obtain a bifunctional surface property. Here, basic-modified calcined ABE with a 30 wt.%MEA loading(SAB-30) showed the highest CO_2 capture capacity, but this was decreased with excess MEA loading( 30 wt.%). At a 10%(V/V) initial CO_2 concentration feed, the maximum capacity of SAB-30 increased from 2.71 mmol/g at 30℃(without adding moisture to the feed) to 3.3 mmol/g at 50℃ when adding 10%(V/V) moisture to the feed. Increasing the moisture concentration further reduced the maximum CO_2 capacity due to the blocking effect of the excess moisture on the sorbent surface. However, SAB-30 could completely capture CO_2 even in a 100%(V/V) initial CO_2 concentration feed. A maximum CO_2 capacity of5.7 mmol/g for SAB-30 was achieved at 30℃. Varying the ratio of sorbent weight to total flow rate of the gas stream had no discernible effect on the equilibrium CO_2 capture capacity. Avrami's equation and Toth's isotherm model provided a good fitting for the data and suggested the presence of more than one reaction pathway in the CO_2 capture process and the heterogeneous adsorption surface of SAB-30. Thermodynamics studies revealed that CO_2 capture on the bifunctional SAB-30 is feasible, spontaneous and exothermic in nature.     

Combination of three-stage sink-float method and selective flotation technique for separation of mixed post-consumer plastic waste

The aim of this research was to separate the different plastics of a mixed post-consumer plastic waste by the combination of a three-stage sink-float method and selective flotation. By using the three-stage sink-float method, six mixed-plastic wastes, belonging to the 0.3-0.5 cm size class and including high density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers (ABS) were separated into two groups, i.e., a low density plastic group (HDPE and PP) and a high density plastic group (PET, PVC, PS and ABS) by tap water. Plastic whose density is less than that of the medium solution floats to the surface, while the one whose density is greater than that of the medium solution sinks to the bottom. The experimental results elucidated that complete separation of HDPE from PP was achieved by the three-stage sink-float method with 50% v/v ethyl alcohol. To succeed in the separation of a PS/ABS mixture from a PET/PVC mixture by the three-stage sink-float method, a 30% w/v calcium chloride solution was employed. To further separate post-consumer PET/PVC and PS/ABS based on plastic type, selective flotation was carried out. In order to succeed in selective flotation separation, it is necessary to render hydrophilic the surface of one or more species while the others are kept in a hydrophobic state. In flotation studies, the effects of wetting agent, frother, pH of solution and electrolyte on separation were determined. The selective flotation results showed that when using 500 mg l(-1) calcium lignosulfonate, 0.01 ppm MIBC, and 0.1 mg l(-1) CaCl2 at pH 11, PET could be separated from PVC. To separate ABS from PS, 200 mg l(-1) calcium lignosulfonate and 0.1 mg l(-1) CaCl2 at pH 7 were used as a flotation solution. Wettability of plastic increases when adding CaCl2 and corresponds to a decrease in its contact angles and to a reduction in the recovery of plastic in the floated product.     

Optimization of CO2 adsorption capacity and cyclical adsorption/desorption on tetraethylenepentamine-supported surface-modified hydrotalcite

The objective of this research was to investigate CO_2adsorption capacity of tetraethylenepentamine-functionalized basic-modified calcined hydrotalcite(TEPA/b-c HT)sorbents at atmospheric pressure formed under varying TEPA loading levels,temperatures,sorbent weight to total gaseous flow rate(W/F)ratios and CO_2concentrations in the influent gas.The TEPA/b-c HT sorbents were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction(XRD),Fourier transform infrared spectrometry(FT–IR),thermal gravimetric analysis(TGA),Brunauer–Emmet–Teller(BET)analysis of nitrogen(N_2)adsorption/desorption and carbon–hydrogen–nitrogen(CHN)elemental analysis.Moreover,a full 2~4factorial design with three central points at a 95%confidence interval was used to screen important factor(s)on the CO_2adsorption capacity.It revealed that85.0%variation in the capacity came from the influence of four main factors and the15.0%one was from their interactions.A face-centered central composite design response surface method(FCCCD–RSM)was then employed to optimize the condition,the maximal capacity of 5.5–6.1 mmol/g was achieved when operating with a TEPA loading level of 39%–49%(W/W),temperature of 76–90°C,W/F ratio of 1.7–2.60(g·sec)/cm~3and CO_2concentration of 27%–41%(V/V).The model fitted sufficiently the experimental data with an error range of±1.5%.From cyclical adsorption/desorption and selectivity at the optimal condition,the 40%TEPA/b-c HT still expressed its effective performance after eight cycles.